Southern California -- this just in

Beck's role in mismanagement at L.A. police relief group comes under scrutiny

November 15, 2009 | 1:07
pm

A Times review of court records found one incident over his 32-year
career in which Charlie Beck, who is the mayor's choice to be L.A.'s new police chief, was accused of mishandling a crisis, stifling
reform and covering up the misuse of taxpayer money.

The allegations, which Beck denies, were never proved. They involved
Beck's role as a board member of the Los Angeles Police Relief Assn., a
nonprofit that receives millions of dollars a month in city subsidies
to manage health benefits for most of the city's police officers.

Beck was president of the board -- a volunteer position -- nearly a
decade ago when two former employees filed whistleblower lawsuits
alleging that they were pushed out after uncovering mismanagement and
misconduct.

In an interview Friday, Beck acknowledged there were administrative
problems at the association. He said he had acted properly, and he
pointed out that a city audit and police internal affairs investigation
cleared him and others of any wrongdoing.

Police Relief eventually settled the lawsuits out of court for more
than $1.2 million, according to sources familiar with the terms, which
are covered by nondisclosure agreements.

Asked why the cases were settled, Beck said it was on the advice of the
board's attorneys: "Sometimes it's in the best interests of the
organization."

Photo: LAPD Deputy Chief Charlie Beck, left, picked by Mayor Antonio
Villaraigosa to be the next police chief, says "you can mandate change
from the top ... but the only way an organization really changes is
from the roots up; that's much more powerful." (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times / November 3, 2009)